By Savanna Desmarquest, Deanna Senko | Marketing Officer, Head of Communications
Since our last report, Lighthouse Relief has continued delivering opportunities for recreation, connection, and psychosocial wellbeing for refugees and asylum seekers living in Greece. Through regular football sessions for young men from Ritsona Camp, Safe Spaces for women and children, essential distributions, and new activities at Corinth Camp, participants have been able to access supportive environments where they can build relationships, develop skills, and experience moments of normality outside the challenges of daily camp life.
Our weekly football sessions for young men from Ritsona Refugee Camp continue to provide a consistent source of recreation, connection, and psychosocial support. These participant-led sessions offer young men the opportunity to leave the camp environment, engage in structured physical activity, and strengthen teamwork and leadership skills. This spring, regular participants in our sessions and members of the larger refugee community in Athens made up the first official Lighthouse Relief Football Club, participating in the qualifying rounds of Kypseli Mundial, a community football festival celebrating diversity and inclusion through sport. Our team did not progress beyond the qualifiers, however, the experience was a valuable opportunity for players to represent their community and connect with others through their shared love of football.
Through our Safe Space sessions at the Sama Community Centre, we facilitated an environment for relaxation, recreation, and social connection for women and children living in Malakasa camp. Through activities including self-defence workshops with EmpowerVan, informal language learning, creative workshops, sports, and free play, participants were able to build relationships, develop skills, and focus on their wellbeing. Lighthouse Relief also supported distributions of essential items in Malakasa in collaboration with partner organisations. These distributions help families access clothing, hygiene products, and other everyday necessities.
Alongside these activities, we are excited to have launched new sports activities in Corinth, creating additional opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers to connect through recreation and teamwork. Through regular basketball and volleyball sessions, participants can engage in physical activity, build social connections, and enjoy a positive space that promotes wellbeing and inclusion. Although in its early stages, the programme has already seen strong engagement and enthusiasm from participants, highlighting the important role that sport can play in fostering community and resilience. We are also developing Safe Space programming in Corinth through a community garden project with our partner organisation Meraki. In the community garden, we will guide participant-led activities, including carpentry workshops to build a ping-pong table and a gym space as well as trauma-informed creative workshops, art and music classes, photography workshops for young people, community-building games, a multi-language library corner, and more.
None of this work would be possible without the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and partners. Your support enables us to create safe spaces, foster connection through sport, and adapt our programmes to meet the changing needs of refugee communities across Greece. On behalf of everyone at Lighthouse Relief, and the people who participate in our activities each week, thank you for being part of our community and helping us continue to build opportunities for wellbeing, inclusion, and hope.
If you would like to continue supporting MHPSS and integration activities for people seeking safety in Greece, please consider becoming a monthly donor to one of our active projects here: www.globalgiving.org/donate/40532/lighthouse-relief/
Impact Numbers
Since February, we have engaged 230 young men through regular football sessions and provided safe space activities for 158 women and children (79 women and 79 children). Since May 4, we have delivered two basketball and volleyball sessions per week in Corinth through our collaboration with Meraki, which has seen strong and steadily increasing participation. In addition, 1,992 people received essential hygiene items and clothing through our monthly distribution programme.
Testimonials
“Training with Lighthouse makes us feel better, and that’s one of the most important needs in the camp, to go out and play.” Participant in our football session
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